LONDON - Lionel Messi has once again secured the FIFA men's player of the year award, successfully defending his title against fierce competition. The 36-year-old Argentine triumphed over Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland and Paris St Germain's dynamic forward Kylian Mbappe. Messi, a key figure in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory, also played a pivotal role in PSG's Ligue 1 triumph alongside Mbappe before making a move to Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Despite not being present to receive the award, Messi's impact on the pitch was recognized by national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans. His contribution to Inter Miami's victory in the 2023 Leagues Cup, where he scored 10 goals, further solidified his claim to the prestigious title.
The voting period for the men's prize spanned from December 19, 2022, to August 20, 2023, beginning immediately after the World Cup final in Qatar. Haaland, who played a crucial role in Manchester City's treble-winning season, finished second in the voting. The 23-year-old Norwegian scored an impressive 52 goals in 53 matches across all competitions but fell short of Messi in the points tally, losing out due to fewer first-place votes from national team captains.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, was honored with the Best Men's Coach award. Guardiola, who led City to a historic treble, dedicated the award to fellow nominees Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti. Inzaghi guided Inter Milan to the 2023 Champions League final, while Spalletti secured Serie A for Napoli after a 33-year title drought.
In the women's category, Spain's Aitana Bonmati, a key player in the 2023 World Cup-winning team, was crowned the best women's player of the year. Sarina Wiegman claimed the Best Women's Coach prize for leading England to the World Cup final, where they narrowly lost to Spain. The Women's World XI featured seven players from Wiegman's England squad, with Mary Earps receiving the Best Women's Goalkeeper Award.
Ederson, the goalkeeper for Manchester City and Brazil, clinched the men's Best Goalkeeper award, further highlighting the success of City's players and staff in the prestigious FIFA awards.